Gaston Julia

PhotographGaston Julia

Gaston Maurice Julia (1893-1978) wasFrench fractal mathematician who devisedformula forJulia set. His works were popularised by French mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, andJuliaMandelbrot fractalsclosely related.

Julia was bornFebruary 3 1893 inAlgerian townSidi Bel Abbès, attime under French rule. In his youth, he had an interestmathematicsmusic. His studies were interrupted atage20, when France got involvedWorld War Ihe was calledserve inarmy. In one operation onstormy, cold night he had sufferedsevere injurythus lost his nose. After many unsuccessful operationsremedysituation, he was forcedwearleather strap aroundarea where his nose was forresthis life.

His presence became more known afterwar after199-page article he wrote was featured inJournal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées,French mathematics journal. The article, titled "Mémoire sur l'itération des fonctions rationnelles" describediteration ofrational function. The article gained immense popularity among mathematicians andgeneral population aswhole,so ledJulia's later receiving ofGrand Prix de l'Académie des Sciences. Despitehis fame, his works were all forgotten untilday Benoit Mandelbrot mentioned themhis works, after whichfound fame again, although not as much.

Julia died on March 19 1978Paris. He was 85 years old.